Accomplishments 2009-2010
Passing the largest student financial aid law in history.
In March, President Obama signed the largest student loan bill in history into law. The new law increases financial aid for students by $36 billion, and it won't cost taxpayers a dime because it's funded by cutting wasteful hand-outs to banks and loan companies like Sallie Mae and Citibank. Across the country 10,000 of you called, wrote, emailed, and tweeted your Congressmen asking them to take action. In addition, our DC staff worked tirelessly to bring your message to legislators and their staff.
Stopping the worst unfair practices by credit companies.
In February the Credit CARD Act went into effect. This law protects students and ends some of the worst unfair practices of credit card companies, making it illegal for credit card companies to profit by tricking people into paying late. It was the outcry of students like you that passed this law, and the banks aren't happy about it - this is the first time in 40 years any law opposed by credit card companies has passed.
Here at UMass Boston, MASSPIRG led a press conference with Vice Chancellor Day and Massachusetts Undersecretary for the Office of Consumer Affairs to publicize the new protections and educate students about using credit responsibly. The press conference was covered by the Boston Metro and WHDH Ch 7 News, among other outlets.
Reforming the health care system in order to make health care affordable.
Despite hundreds of millions of dollars spent by the insurance industry to stop reform, health insurance reform became law. Our priority has been to make health care affordable. This law takes unprecedented steps to lower costs for families and small businesses, and it prohibits insurers from using pre-existing conditions, errors on forms, and lifetime or yearly caps to drop your coverage or price it out of reach. It also helps young adults – a highly uninsured demographic - by allowing them to stay on their parents’ coverage until age 26.
Building support for global warming solutions.
We're calling on the Senate to build a clean energy economy that will create jobs and enhance America’s national security while protecting the environment. Across the country, we mobilized over 30,000 students and community members to contact their Senators to call for clean, renewable energy and an end to our dependence on oil and coal. We held events on campus and off to educate thousands of people, resulting in more than 100 news stories about our work.
UMass Boston students participated in a nationwide week of calling to the Senate, generating 200 phone calls to Senator Scott Brown’s office. Students have also been focusing on what we can do right here in Massachusetts by calling on Governor Patrick to set a high standard for reducing greenhouse gas emissions here in our state.
Helping rebuild Haiti, and fighting poverty here at home.
It's been a tough year for many American families, and the earthquake in Haiti has affected millions. Through our annual Hunger Cleanup, students from UMass Boston joined students across the country for a day of service in our communities. Together, we raised also raised $483 for Project Hope Women and Children’s Shelter in Dorchester, Oxfam’s Haiti Relief and national efforts to combat poverty. We also collaborated with the Haitian American Society to run a series of fundraisers for Oxfam’s Haiti Relief, including a text-a-donation drive that raised $1613 in a single day.
Updating the Bottle Bill.
As part of a broad effort to reduce waste and promote recycling here in Massachusetts, MASSPIRG students have been working diligently to get the state legislature update the Bottle Bill so that it will include water bottles and other frequently used plastic beverage containers. Students have been reaching out to cities and towns all around the state to gather local support for the legislation.
Starting recycling at Harbor Point.
We reached out to school administrators and the management of Harbor Point to begin a recycling program. In the coming weeks, two large recycling dumpsters will be available for all residents to use for their recycling needs.
Making textbooks more affordable.
Here at UMass Boston, students collected 106 textbook surveys for a national report on the way students use textbooks and their cost. In addition, UMass Boston students have been reaching out to professors about open textbooks- books students can read free online or purchase in print for $20-40.
Students reaffirm their support for MASSPIRG in one of the highest turnouts for UMass Boston student government elections ever.
Every two years, MASSPIRG runs a referendum for students to show their continued support for MASSPIRG and the work that MASSPIRG does on and off campus. UMass Boston students turned out to vote in record numbers and showed their overwhelming support for MASSPIRG, with 84% of students, 1113 votes, voting to continue the chapter at UMass Boston.